Runny nose

[Lindsay]

 I just noticed Monty has a snotty nose. 🙁

I noticed him sneezing a bit the last few days but he does sometimes sneeze when he’s moulting. I have been checking his nose every day and there was never any discharge, until today. Today I hadn’t noticed him sneeze at all (I was in the same room with him all day) but just now I was playing with him, he hopped in his covered litter tray and when he came out there was a string of cloudy-looking mucus below his nose that looked like it had come out of just one nostril. His eyes are fine and he is energetic, eating and pooping normally. His paws are not matted so I don’t think there was any discharge before the bit I just noticed.

I’m going to take him to our vet first thing tomorrow (they take walk-ins) but is there anything I can do in the meantime or other things to check for? I’m really hoping that maybe he just had something stuck up his nose rather than something bacterial or even more serious.

Also, should I move Bea out of the same room in case it’s bacterial?

[Sarita]

I don’t think you need to move her. I think just make sure he eats more than anything.

[Lindsay]

Will do, thanks. He’s eating fine, had all his hay, pellets and leaves, and I just gave him some basil (his favourite) and a strawberry as a treat. All eaten with gusto. He’s drinking too, and pooping plenty. I’ve been playing with him all evening and he’s in high spirits and running around normally. His nose sounds very faintly squeaky if I get really close to him. But I stuck my ear to his side and it doesn’t sound like the squeaky breathing is coming from his lungs, more like his nostril.
Why do rabbits always get ill on weekends? I’ll be so nervous all night until I can take him to the vet tomorrow.

[RabbitPam]

It’s Monday afternoon – are you back?
What did the vet say?
{{{{{{{{{{{{Healing vibes and a hanky for Monty}}}}}}}}}}

[Lindsay]

The vet reckoned it was sinusitis/rhinitis – possibly his nose got irritated from breathing in some dust or fur (he’s in the middle of a HUGE molt). He gave him an anti-inflammatory and antibiotic injection. He’s still sneezing a little bit, but the fur under his nose looks clean and dry. Sometimes when he touches me with his nose though (like if he pushes my hand to be petted) it still feels slightly damp. So I guess it might still be running a bit. No more mucus though. I’m supposed to take him back at the end of the week if he’s not better and we’ll try something else. Fingers crossed this sorts it though. He’s still fine otherwise – it never really seems to bother him.

[Lindsay]

Oh dear, spoke too soon – he’s sneezing and his breathing has a whistling sound again. Back to the vets it seems. The discharge hasn’t been cloudy since that one big booger that he sneezed out before though and his paws aren’t matted. They only gave him an injection last time – would it be better to try and get a course to be given orally?
I’m supposed to be going away tomorrow too and leaving him with my parents rabbit-sitting. I know they’ll take him to the vet again and give him any medicine but now I’ll be worrying if I go…

ETA: the discharge is clear and now seems to be coming from both nostrils (it originally looked like it was just one).

[NaturalRabbit]

Hugs!

I really hope everything will be okay with him… whenever I heard of runny noses pasteurella always comes to mind.
Update us soon!

[Sarita]

I think at this point it would be good to do a culture and sensitivity test to determine what the problem is.

[Lindsay]

Yes, I was thinking I would ask the vet to do that. I hope it’s not pasteurella 🙁

[NaturalRabbit]

I know they can allergy test dogs, cats, and horses through a blood draw… what about rabbits?

[Lindsay]

Just for an update, the antibiotics finally kicked in and Monty is no longer snotty :-). The vet had given him an injection that was supposed to last for a week, so when we took him back they said they couldn’t give him any more until it wore off, but gave him some decongestant powder stuff to put in his water, and that helped him shift the stuffed-up nose. We were gonna take him back tuesday if it hadn’t helped, but it did, so he’s back to his healthy old self.

[BinkyBunny]

I’ve not heard of powdery stuff to put in water for a decongestant. That doesn’t mean anything though as I have really been out of the loop this year when it comes to runny noses and such. I’ve been hyper-focused on other types of illnesses. I am curious though as to what it is and if anyone else has used it before. Interesting

I’m glad the antibiotics have been working though!

[Lindsay]

It’s called Bisolvon… You put it on their food or in their water and it thins the mucus to help them breathe easier. Monty had quite squeaky breathing and it seemed to help. He would be squeaking and sniffling, then a little while after having the Bisolvon a big blob of mucus (eurgh) would drain out of his nose and he wouldn’t be squeaky again for quite a while..

[MimzMum]

Lindsay, you must b a UK member then? I think that’s what they use there. I don’t think it’s available in the US yet, BB.

I’d love to get my hands on this stuff. Mimzy is a chronic sniffler. He needs something better than round after round of Baytril.

Hope Monty continues to improve, please keep us updated on him. (((((((((((((((((vibes for Monty)))))))))))))))

[Lindsay]

Yep, I’m in the UK. I hope it becomes available in the US for you guys, it really helped Monts.
He’s totally recovered now, thank goodness. We’ve got a ton of Bisolvon left so I’m going to tuck it away in our bunny first aid kid should the sniffles ever arise again.

[Author]

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